Nashville has laws to protect animals.
Visit the Metropolitan Nashville Municipal Codes website to see a complete list of ordinances concerning animals.
Title 8: Animals
The most important ordinance pertaining to our cause is:
8.12.030 Cruelty to animals prohibited.
A. No person shall intentionally or willfully or knowingly kill, maim, torture, torment, grossly overwork or overload or cause any of the actions stated herein to be committed.
B. No person shall fail unreasonably or cause another person to fail unreasonably to provide adequate food, water, care or shelter to any animal in the person’s custody or to abandon any animal in the person’s custody. For the purposes of this section, "shelter" shall mean a structure or enclosure which provides an animal with protection from the elements (weather), which structure or enclosure must have a roof, floor and three sides, and be of sufficient size as to allow each animal to stand up, lie down and turn around in a natural position.
C. No person shall allow any animal to remain confined in such a manner as to unreasonably restrict the animal’s ability to move. No person shall allow any dog to remain confined by way of rope, chain or cord that is less than fifteen feet in length.
D. No person shall administer any poisonous or noxious substance to any animal or expose any such substance with intent that the same shall be taken by an animal, whether such animal be the property of himself or another, except when the animals exposed or administered such substances are rodents, fowl or other animals which pose a significant health hazard to the public.
E. Any police officer or any employee of the metropolitan government authorized to enforce the provisions of Chapter 8.04 and 8.08 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws may lawfully interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty as defined herein upon any animal in his presence. No person shall interfere with or obstruct any such officer or employee in the discharge of his duty. (Amdt. 1 and 2 with Ord. 2001-843 § 1, 2001: Ord. 99-1776 § 2 (part), 1999)8.12.010 Keeping of animals that disturb the peace.
A. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal, dog, bird or fowl which, by causing frequent or loud continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity.
B. Violation of this section shall be declared to be public nuisance which violation may be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction. (§ 2 of Amdt. 1 to Ord. 90-1275, 7/17/90; Ord. 90-1275 §§ 1, 2, 1990)
Davidson County and Tenneessee State law sheet
Rutherford County ordinance sheet
See laws and ordinances passed in other states against tethering dogs.
The State of Tennesee also has laws to protect animals
The United States protects animals used in breeding, exhibitions, as livestock and for research purposes
Write to your local representatives and tell them that you want a law passed banning the tethering of dogs.
City Council Members
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